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Poor Roads Becoming a 'Hole' Lot of Danger!27/02/2013

As well as becoming an expensive nuisance for many fleet operators, the increasing number of pot holes on UK roads is introducing a new danger for drivers, over and beyond damaged tyres.

According to Graham Hurdle, managing director of fleet risk assessment and driver training specialists E-Training World, the problem has become so severe on some roads that drivers are swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid them.

Others are stopping without warning on narrow country roads to allow traffic in the opposite lane to pass in order to drive around them, with drivers behind not appreciating why they have stopped – and in some cases attempting to overtake.

“We’re witnessing a new trend in British driving habits,” said Graham, “whereby potholes are creating a new form of behaviour.

“The same has applied to the recent floods, with drivers veering into the middle of the road to avoid large puddles, sometimes regardless of the oncoming traffic or assuming that it will wait.”

With Government cost cutting measures to reduce the deficit coinciding with some of the worst weather in years, pot holes have become an all too common sight.

“As part of our online driver risk assessment and e-driver training systems, we are considering introducing questions as to what to do in the event of seeing a large pothole in the road, or if your lane is flooded,” said Graham, “because at the end of the day our system is aimed at assessing and reducing risk but also driving down costs through improved driving, and avoiding pot holes has become an aspect of this.

“But if drivers feel they cannot continue within the confines of their own lane they should never move into the middle unless the road is clear. If they have to slow down or stop they should make it obvious to the car behind that there is a problem – either by using their hazard indicators or the good old-fashioned up and down arm signal to denote a slowing vehicle.”